Cathay Pacific to Host Cadet Pilot Workshop in Shanghai in August 2026

China – Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific will hold a Cadet Pilot Exploration Workshop in Shanghai on August 22, 2026, including career briefings, aviation activities and access to its recruitment team.

• The invitation-only event will offer two sessions at The Sukhothai Shanghai:
  • Morning: 10:00 to 12:30.
  • Afternoon: 14:30 to 17:00.
  • Registration deadline: August 7, 2026.
• Participants will receive information about the Cadet Pilot Program and meet Cathay flight crew and Talent Acquisition representatives.
• Applicants may request an initial cadet pilot interview during registration. Cathay will assess submissions and invite selected candidates to interview during the event.
• The sponsored program requires no previous flying experience and takes approximately 80 weeks. Cadets complete ground training in Hong Kong or overseas, followed by flight training and multi-crew preparation before joining Cathay as Second Officers.
• Entry requirements include:
  • The right to live and work in Hong Kong or mainland China.
  • A minimum age of 18.
  • Secondary education with passes in English and Mathematics or Science.
  • ICAO English Level 4 or above.
  • Eligibility for a Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department Class 1 medical certificate.
• Cathay uses multiple cadet training pathways. Ground instruction is delivered through Cathay Academy or Hong Kong Polytechnic University, while flight training is conducted by AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona and Flight Training Adelaide in Australia.
• AFM previously reported that Cathay held a Cadet Pilot Exploration Workshop at Cathay City in November 2025. The Shanghai event extends the recruitment format into mainland China and adds the option for selected candidates to complete an initial interview on site.
• AFM also reported that more than 500 Cathay cadets were in training in May 2025 and that the airline had trained more than 1,000 cadets since relaunching the program in 2022. 

About Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is a Hong Kong-based international passenger and cargo airline and a founding member of the oneworld alliance. Cathay Pacific and Cathay Cargo operated 179 aircraft at December 31, 2025. The fleet comprised 16 A321/A320neo-family aircraft, 43 A330-300s, 30 A350-900s, 18 A350-1000s, 17 777-300s, 35 777-300ERs, six 747-400ERFs and 14 747-8Fs.

Source: Cathay Pacific